The Supreme Court granted cert. yesterday in Gonzales v. Oregon, in which the federal government has challenged Oregon's "Death with Dignity" law. The law gives Oregon doctors the authority
to prescribe lethal substances to mentally competent, terminally
ill patients who have less than six months to live. Since it took effect
in 1998, 171 Oregonians have committed suicide under the law.
Although the federal district court and Ninth Circuit have upheld the law, Ashcroft challenged it last year, arguing that it violates federal criminal narcotics laws. More . . . [Mark Godsey]